The Mighty MCG

First I have computer issues and then Blogger has had technical issues the past couple of days when I have wanted to blog...Murphy strikes again!!

But...I'm finally able to get access and it's past time to get to the venture to the mighty MCG or just The G has Natalie would refer to it.  You are probably asking yourself...what is the MCG?

The MCG

The Melbourne Cricket Grounds (MCG) just happens to be sacred ground for the game of cricket in Melbourne...much like Yankee Stadium is to baseball and you just can not go halfway around the world and not tour the MCG.  If only I had been a month or so earlier I could have gone to a cricket game though I know pretty much nothing about the game of cricket.  Now an AFL footy game would have been a bit more understandable but that season was a month or so away.  My timing hadn't been the best for sports...maybe next time.

Light tower at MCG

The G is the tenth largest stadium in the world and the largest stadium for playing cricket and holds the world's record for the highest light towers at any sports venue.  The 1956 Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games.  In 2009 The MCG was named one of the seven wonders of the sporting world. 

Tours run all day long at the MCG and I didn't have long to wait once I found my way from the Richmond Station.  I managed not to get lost this time like I had going to the Fitzroy Gardens but frankly...if I had managed to lose my way to The MCG I pretty much would have had to have been blind as the stadium is huge!!

We had quite a character of a tour guide taking us throughout The MCG from the ABC Press box to the Life Time member seats to the hallowed grass itself on the field.  We went throughout most of The MCG...about the only places we didn't go were the maintenance closets.

Also located at The MCG is the National Sports Museum dedicated to Australian sports.  I was particularly interested in the Women's Basketball section which was disappointingly small but I've been reminded more than once that basketball is not a big sport in Australia.  I, however, am a big fan of many of the Australian women players who currently play or played in the WNBA here in the U.S.  Some of those players are mighty Michelle Timms, Tully Bevilaqua and Lauren Jackson to name just a few.  Lauren is one of the premier players in the world of basketball if not the very best current player and a handful of years ago I had the great pleasure of sitting with her when the Minnesota Lynx were playing the Phoenix Mercury and she has a wonderful personality and a sense of humor that still makes me chuckle to this day.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Melbourne be sure to put The MCG on your bucket list of places to see.  The only thing that would have been better when I was there is if I could have seen a cricket or footy game.  But that wasn't to be.

MCG logo

Until next time...wherever you are...have a great day!!

If you would like to see more pictures of The MCG here is a link to that photo album on Picasa:  Play slideshow